19 Best Sunscreens for Oily Skin (Tested and Reviewed for 2023)

I own about 30 different sunscreens (and have tried hundreds over the years—hey, it’s my job, okay!), and this is genuinely one of the only bottles I’ve ever had to squeeze out every last drop. It’s filled with dimethicone, a silicone that makes my skin feel silky-smooth, which gives the formula a gel texture that’s completely clear (it has no color on deep skin too, per TikTok, fyi). I spread it on my skin in the morning before foundation, and I sometimes don’t even feel like I need to pat on setting powder because it gives me such a natural, matte finish.

• Type: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
• Other key ingredients: Dimethicone
• SPF: 46
• Oil-free? Yes

THE REVIEWS: “I absolutely love this stuff,” writes one reviewer. “It’s legitimately THE ONLY facial sunscreen I’ve ever used that didn’t cause me to break out. If you’re sensitive or acne prone, try it!”

I keep my vanity stocked with this sunscreen for whenever I’m dealing with a particularly angry breakout. It has a light-green tint that helps neutralize some of the redness on my skin, along with loads of anti-inflammatory ingredients, including ectoin, bisabolol, and green tea extract. But don’t worry—the tint fully disappears into my medium skin once I blend it in (though it may leave a slight white cast on deep skin tones), leaving behind a velvet-y, sheer finish with absolutely no tacky residue.

• Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
• Other key ingredients: Ectoin, bisabolol, green tea extract
• SPF: 30
• Oil-free? No (raspberry and moringa seed oils)

THE REVIEWS: “I layer this right over my day cream as a double moisturizer and SPF,” writes one reviewer. “The green tint is just enough to dull redness—because my pimples be gettin' angry at me—but when I spread it over my face, it sets as colorless. It would take a lot for me to switch to another SPF now because I am simply so obsessed.”

I recently brought this SPF with me on ~vacation~ (hehe), and by the end of the trip, I’d convinced everyone else to order one for themselves. The sunscreen spray has a super-fine mist to give you even coverage and protection without leaving your skin dewy at all. It does contain alcohol, which can be irritating and drying for some skin types, but for me and my oily skin, I find that it helps keep me shine-free longer. With a blend of soothing aloe vera and bisabolol, as well as moisturizing shea butter, it also leaves my skin feeling refreshed. Of course, it features the O.G. ‘80s sunscreen scent Vacation is known for, which makes this a legit delight to spritz on.

• Type: Chemical (avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene)
• Other key ingredients: Aloe, bisabolol, shea butter
• SPF: 50
• Oil-free? No (shea butter, maracuja oil, and cucumber seed oil)

THE REVIEWS: “It's not greasy at all,” writes one reviewer. “It has a relaxing smell and no white cast. Doesn’t leave my face with grease spots after a few hours either.”

I’ve tested a handful of clean sunscreens for oily skin, and they often leave a white cast or a strong glowy finish that my oily skin simply despises. But one of my favorite clean beauty brands, Cocokind, essentially developed the antithesis of that. This sunscreen is a hybrid of chemical and mineral filters (see: homosalate and zinc oxide) that protects my skin but blends out with a sheer, lightweight finish on my medium skin tone (and also on deeper skin tones, based on TikTok reviews). TBH, I completely forgo my morning moisturizer in the summer in favor of this sunscreen, because the lightweight banana flower extract is just moisturizing enough for my oily skin but doesn’t leave my makeup slippin’ and slidin’ all over my face.

• Type: Chemical (homosalate) and mineral (zinc oxide)
• Other key ingredients: Banana flower extract (moisturizes)
• SPF: 30
• Oil-free? Yes

THE REVIEWS: “I'd been using Cocokind's other sunscreen for years and loved it, but the Silk Spf is a total game changer,” one tester writes. “[It] makes my skin look so dewy, goes on super smooth, and doesn't irritate my sensitive/acne-prone skin at all.”

Waiting for your sunscreen to set is basically the adult version of your parents making you wait 30 minutes to swim after you scarfed down a poolside hot dog. But I’ve found the solution in this lightweight chemical formula from La Roche-Posay. The creamy, thin texture (see: combo of smoothing silicones and ultra-lightweight moisturizers) immediately absorbs into my skin the second I start massaging it in, leaving behind a natural finish that looks like I’m not even wearing anything. I brought this on a trip to Aruba with me, and I loved the ease of just quickly swiping it in in the mornings or throughout the day at the beach.

FYI, tho: The UV index was high af in Aruba, which led me to getting a lil sunburnt on my nose. And because this formula contains alcohol, it stung a little bit as I rubbed it onto my burn. I ended up swapping for the La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Daily Antioxidant SPF Serum on my nose while my skin healed and slathered this everywhere else.

• Type: Chemical (Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
• Other key ingredients: Dimethicone, vitamin E, glycerin
• SPF: 60
• Oil-free? Yes

THE REVIEWS: One tester writes, “One thing that really sets this sunscreen apart from others I've tried is how easily it blends into my skin. It doesn't leave any white residue or greasy feeling, which makes it perfect for wearing under makeup or just on its own. I also appreciate that it doesn't clog my pores or cause any breakouts.”

“Mineral-based sunscreen tends to be better for oily skin,” says dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, “because these minerals are typically less irritating to your skin than chemical SPF filters are, making them a bit more tolerable for acne-prone and sensitive skin.” However, these formulas often get a bad rap for being thick and heavy on your skin and leaving behind an unsightly white cast. But I’ve found this new mineral sunscreen from Lightsaver (which was developed by dermatologist David Kim, MD) to feel nothing like the rich, milky formulas I’m used to.

Instead, this sheer sunscreen has a light tint that essentially disappears as I blend it into my medium/tan skin tone and my roommates’ fair skin too (though it might take a little effort to blend into deep skin). Its lightweight moisturizers, squalane and glycerin, leave behind a satin, skin-like finish, which layers really well under my tinted moisturizer, because it helps but also gives my skin a nice glow on its own too without adding too much shine. Plus, it’s also formulated with niacinamide, which is basically a do-it-all ingredient that soothes and brightens over time.

• Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
• Other key ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, niacinamide
• SPF: 33
• Oil-free? No (sunflower seed oil)

MY REVIEW: I’m fully impressed with this mineral sunscreen. There’s no white cast on my medium skin tone, and it doesn’t feel goopy or heavy on my oily skin. I can load this on my face in the morning without having to worry that my skin will become a grease machine in a few hours.

If your main skincare goal is preventing fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots, you absolutely must slather on SPF 30+ every single morning. And if you really wanna get ~serious~ about smooth skin, try this mineral sunscreen, which uses bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative, that speeds up cell turnover to churn out smoother, brighter, and firmer skin over time. IK what you’re thinking: Retinoids…in the daytime? But this formula already includes SPF (hi, zinc oxide) to protect your sensitive, retinized skin from the sun. Plus, it contains soothing green tea extract to help counteract any potential dryness (but fwiw, I’ve used this for the last month on my oily skin and haven’t had any sensitivity).

• Type: Mineral
• Other key ingredients: Zinc oxide, green tea extract
• SPF: 40
• Oil-free? Yes

THE REVIEWS: “Enjoying this product,” writes one reviewer. “It’s a great consistency and feels good on my skin. It doesn’t leave my skin feeling oily or sticky. Haven’t been able to see any long-term benefits of the retinol yet, but I love the ingredients!”

“Lotion and creams provide the best SPF coverage,” notes dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, “but powder sunscreens are still great for fast, no-fuss, no-mess touch-ups.” Which is also why I love this translucent mineral sunscreen for reapplying sunscreen to my oily skin, because it’s essentially a setting powder and a sunscreen top-up all in one.

Seriously—even dermatologist Divya Shokeen, MD, is a fan: “It absorbs excess oils, which leaves your skin with a matte finish,” she says. I start with a liquid sunscreen underneath (like, any of the others on this list), but instead of trying to blend another layer of sunscreen over my oily skin, I just dab this powder over my face with the included brush.

• Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
• Other key ingredients: Ceramides, papaya and mango fruit extracts
• SPF: 30
• Oil-free? Yes

THE REVIEWS: As one tester writes, “This is such a holy grail for my skincare. I put this on in the morning and my face stays matte the entire day.”

This SPF 40 chemical sunscreen is so invisible and ~low-key~ that I barely even notice I have it on. It has a transparent, gel-like consistency that blends into a silky, matte texture (hi, dimethicone, ily). My skin feels so smooth and hydrated too, thanks to the shea butter and jojoba esters in the formula. Dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, also loves this sunscreen for oily-skin patients, because it has a “super-lightweight formula that leaves no white cast on any skin tone and glides on smooth and stays put but does not have a heavy feel or finish.”

• Type: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
• Other key ingredients: Dimethicone, shea butter, jojoba esters
• SPF: 40
• Oil-free? Yes* (but contains shea butter, which can be heavy for some)

THE REVIEWS: “As a Person of Color, I don’t have a lot of sunscreens available to me,” one tester says. “Most of them create an ugly white cast. This product does not do that. It feels so smooth and clear on your skin.”

Lemme intro you to my current favorite tinted SPF 50 by Kinlò, the brand created by four-time Grand Slam champion (nbd) Naomi Osaka. The formula dries down to a natural, skin-like finish that doesn’t feel greasy yet also doesn’t totally mattify your face like a mask. And, thanks to the fact that the formula is slightly tinted (making it great for light to tan skin tones), I can either layer it under my full-coverage foundation when I'm going out, or just wear it on its own with a few dots of highlighter and a wash of cream bronzer.

• Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
• Other key ingredients: Dimethicone, niacinamide
• SPF: 50
• Oil-free? No (safflower seed oil)

THE REVIEWS: According to one reviewer, “This sunscreen is protective and has no white cast! Has a tint to it that is very forgiving and gives a natural finish.”

Although experts generally choose mineral sunscreen over chemical formulations for oily skin, it comes down to personal preference. And dammit, I personally love a clear, chemical sunscreen on my oily skin, particularly this gel version from Glossier. It’s a water-based gel SPF 35 that actually just feels like you’re layering on another face serum because the consistency is so thin. Because the product is sheer, you won’t feel greasy whatsoever, and as a bonus, it has the most divine orange scent.

• Type: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate)
• Other key ingredients: Aloe vera, camellia leaf extract
• SPF: 35
• Oil-free? No (essential oils)

THE REVIEWS: “I’ve got oily skin and have tried so many ‘great’ sunscreens for my face [and] I’ve always felt greasy after,” writes one reviewer, “But not with this product! I can barely feel it on, it’s literally weightless and feels so good on my skin. LOVE IT.”

Fun fact: Sunscreens in the U.S. are actually only required to protect against skin-cancer-causing UVB rays, not wrinkle-causing UVA rays, so it’s v special when a sunscreen actually offers broad-spectrum protection (meaning it has at least some protection against UVA rays). Which is why I legit love this mineral SPF 50 from Isdin. It shields you from the full UV spectrum, as well as free radicals and pollutants, helping to prevent everything from skin cancer to premature fine lines, melasma, and dullness.

Plus, the formula is majorly light, thanks to its emulsion/serum-like texture. Dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, recommends these thin sunscreens to patients with oily skin because “they’re a great way to add a light layer of hydration to your skin without loading up on a heavy cream.” Meaning you can essentially double this as your moisturizer and sunscreen to cut down on products that could just make you greasy throughout the day.

• Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
• Other key ingredients: Dimethicone, panthenol
• SPF: 50
• Oil-free? Yes

THE REVIEWS: One reviewer writes, “Finally, a daily sunscreen that I can wear under makeup. It isn’t heavy, sinks right in, and provides just the right level of moisture.”

Every dermatologist I've ever met—including dermatologists Divya Shokeen, MD, and Jeannette Graf, MD—has raved about this ultra-lightweight sunscreen from EltaMD. Why, you ask? Because, along with chemical and mineral SPF, it uses niacinamide and lactic acid to help exfoliate dead skin that can cause breakouts, smooth any bumpy texture you have on your skin, and slowly fade acne scars. I’m partial to the clear formula, but I did order the tinted version pretty much immediately after Hailey Bieber used it in a GRWM TikTok and love it for my medium skin as a skin tint.

• Type: Chemical (octinoxate) and mineral (zinc oxide)
• Other key ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
• SPF: 46
• Oil-free? Yes

THE REVIEWS: As one reviewer writes, “I have acne-prone skin and very sensitive skin, which sometimes gets irritated from even high-end brands, but this sunscreen is a game changer. All good ingredients in one product.”

If I put this sunscreen on my oily skin in the morning, my face will stay completely shine-free until I’m ready to take my makeup off. The clear-on-all-skin-tones, silicone-based gel smoothes over my skin and leaves a matte finish, which makes it especially great under makeup. And because it’s so smoothing and mattifying, it works double-duty as my makeup primer, since it doesn’t pill or get greasy no matter how much I layer on.

• Type: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
• Other key ingredients: Aloe vera, shea butter, squalane
• SPF: 45
• Oil-free? No (coconut oil and shea butter)

THE REVIEWS: According to one tester’s review, “It applies so smoothly with minimal smell, and it’s completely matte. I’ve been wearing it every day since I purchased it a week ago and experienced no additional breakouts, and it remains matte throughout the day!”

Okay, so technically this is a moisturizer for oily skin, but it also has SPF 45 sun protection which makes it a really simple addition to your skincare routine if you’d rather not incorporate two steps. But just because it’s a moisturizer doesn’t mean it’s shiny and heavy. This one actually has niacinamide that can help regulate oil production, while glycerin and sodium PCA hydrate your skin.

• Type: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
• Other key ingredients: Niacinamide, watermelon fruit extract, sunflower seed oil
• SPF: 45
• Oil-free? No (sunflower oil and essential oils)

THE REVIEWS: “As a Black woman with a darker complexion, I am always skeptical about trying new sunscreens, but this sunscreen totally hit the mark!” one reviewer writes. “Not only does it not leave a white cast and is easy to apply, it is also really moisturizing.”

Dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, recommends this stick sunscreen from Shiseido for oily skin because it goes on with a smooth, matte finish. Stash this cute lil bb in your makeup bag and glide it directly over your skin to reapply your sunscreen on the go. Because it goes on completely clear (legit, for all skin tones), you don’t even need a mirror to smooth it on, making it essentially mess-free. You can massage it all over your skin every two to three hours, or use it to touch-up the high points of your face that are prone to sun damage, like your nose and forehead.

• Type: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
• Other key ingredients: Triethylhexanoin (moisturizing), licorice root extract
• SPF: 50+
• Oil-free? No (mineral and castor oil)

THE REVIEWS: “I love this SPF and the convenience of having it in a stick is amazing,” writes one tester. “It goes on so smoothly and so easily—no white cast, no color, not even much blending or moving around necessary. This is so perfect for days on the go.”

Don’t wanna spend a ton of money on sunscreen? You don’t have to, fyi. Try out this drugstore sunscreen for your oily skin, which has become a cult favorite thanks to its light, liquid texture that absorbs surprisingly quickly. “It also contains zinc oxide, which helps to absorb excess oil and control shine,” Dr. Graf says. But keep in mind zinc is known for leaving a strong white cast on deep skin, so even if you blend this in, it might still look a lil ghostly (and in that case, opt for a chemical formula, like Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Matte).

• Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
• Other key ingredients: Allantoin, bisabolol, niacinamide
• SPF: 50
• Oil-free? Yes

THE REVIEWS: “I have searched high and low for a mineral facial sunscreen that didn’t pill, make me look like a dried-out crypt keeper, leave a cast even on my pale skin, didn’t cost more than my rent, burn, itch, played nice with my makeup, actually did what it says, and overall was considered ‘holy grail status,’” writes one tester.

If you plan to spend any time in the ~great outdoors~ this year, you should have this SPF 50 body lotion from EleVen by Venus Williams in your arsenal. It uses chemical filters, which not only make this SPF 50 body lotion fully transparent, but it helps the formula from running if you’re swimming or sweating. And it has a velvet-y, smooth finish that actually helps wick some sweat and mattify excess oil too.

• Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
• Other key ingredients: Allantoin, bisabolol, orange peel extract
• SPF: 50
• Oil-free? No (essential oils)

THE REVIEWS: “I’ve always had trouble finding the right SPF that prevents breakouts and heat bumps on my arms and legs,” one reviewer says. “EleVen fits the bill perfectly! I spent two weeks in the hot Italian sun with no sunburn or breakouts.”

FYI, your lip skin is incredibly thing and prone to sun damage (and even skin cancer), which is where this SPF lip balm comes in. But if you’re prone to lip pimples, you should reach for a lightweight lip balm like this one from Paula’s Choice, which combines chemical sunscreen filters with penetrating oils like jojoba oil and soybean oil that can actually moisturize your lips without making your lips or the skin around them feel greasy. Smooth this balm over your lips every one to two hours while you’re in the sun to keep your lips protected and soft.

• Type: Chemical
• Other key ingredients: Jojoba oil, soybean oil
• SPF: 50
• Oil-free? No (jojoba and soybean oil)

THE REVIEWS: “I've been on the hunt for my perfect SPF lip balm, and this is it,” a reviewer says. “It has a lovely smooth texture that’s not heavy or sticky or greasy.”